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21. If an electron moves from the 3rd to the 2nd energy levelA. It absorbs energy and enters the excited stateb. It absorbs energy and enters the ground stateC. It releases energy and enters the excited stated. It releases energy and enters the ground state

Sagot :

Step 1 - Understanding energy absorption/releasing

An electron in an atom may interact with light (usually UV light, but visible light as well), thus absorbing a photon, which can cause the electron to jump from on level to another, further away from the nucleus.

This is called atomic absorption. The electron, by jumping from one level to a more energetic one, enters the so called excited state, which is not a higly stable state. As a consequence, the electron soon loses its energy by emitting a photon, thus returning to its original level.

This is called atomic emission. To sumarize then:

atomic absorption - electron goes to a further level by absorbing energy

atomic emission - electron comes back to a less energetic level by liberating energy

Step 2 - Answering the exercise

Note the electron goes from a more energetic level (3rd) to a lesser one (2nd). Therefore, it is liberating heat and returning to the ground state (non-excited, less energetic state).

The correct answer would be thus it releases energy and enters the ground state

Answer: d